Exceptional Service Awards to Kare Bear volunteers were given to (left to right) Norma Klinger, Mary Lou Frisbie, Mary Cassil, Tisha Johnson and Joey Arnold.
Jim Couzens holds the Friends of Kare Bears Award given to his wife Mary Couzens who could not attend the luncheon.
Dennis DeFrain and Phyllis Minsuk of LifeLong Learning were the recipients of the Kare Bears Founders Award.
Susan White
On November, 9, 2016 Kare Bears hosted their twenty-first Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Tuscany Falls Ballroom. The ballroom was decorated with beautiful balloons along with the KB logo and gold stars on the stage representing the different jobs performed by Kare Bear volunteers. Table centerpieces included fresh flower arrangements with a gold statue, just like those given out at the Oscars.
The Master of Ceremonies for this event was Laurie Overson. She kept the luncheon moving with her special wit!
Everyone had a choice of three entrees and were all treated to a special dessert from Nothing Bundt Cakes.
After lunch Kare Bears President Tom Meek announced the winners of several awards and why they were chosen.
Five Kare Bears volunteers were given Exceptional Service Awards for their countless hours of volunteering such as driving, working in the Kare Bears house, helping with health and wellness events and working with super seniors every Friday. Those volunteers are Norma Klinger, Mary Lou Frisbie, Mary Cassil, Tisha Johnson and Joey Arnold.
Mary Couzens of Couzens Realty was honored with the Friends of Kare Bears Award. This award is given to an organization that has no official connection to Kare Bears. Mary has been very generous to Kare Bears; she always contributes to the raffle held at the luncheon and has been very generous with holding free dances for PebbleCreek residents, collecting donations received from those attending and giving the donations to Kare Bears. She could not be at the event, thus her husband Jim accepted the award.
The Founders Award in honor of Kare Bears Founder Rayma Scalzo is given each year to a PebbleCreek resident or residents who volunteer of their time to benefit those who live in PebbleCreek. This year, LifeLong Learning Co-Chairs Dennis DeFrain and Phyllis Minsuk were given the Founders Award. Lifelong learning has expanded in its 10 years in PebbleCreek and offers Monday morning lectures, Premier lectures and Cinema Society in addition to many other programs for all residents of PebbleCreek.
Checks were also presented to Southwest Lending Closet and Benevilla, whom we partner with on lending equipment and using their resources.
We wish to thank all the vendors who contributed items for our raffle baskets and silent auction items. These sponsors are listed in a separate article. $5,820 was raised from these donations.
A special thank you to Lorna Anderson for chairing this event in addition to chairing the raffles. All other volunteers who helped Lorna are listed in a separate article.
Thank you to all who attended this year’s event!